Basic Course
Unit 1
The voiced consonants /b, d, g, z, ž/ are generally devoiced in final position and sound very much like their voiceless counterparts /p, t, k, s, š/. They are, however, more 'lenis', i.e. pronounced with more relaxed muscles of the mouth.
Note 1.3.2
The glottalized consonant sounds /C K P S T/ are not like anything in English or any other language in Europe. These sounds are formed almost like /c k p s t/ as far as the tongue (or lips in case of /p/) are concerned. But they are 'exploded' not with air from the lungs but rather with air imprisoned between the vocal cords (which are completely closed) and the tongue (or lips in the case of /P/).
Examples:
| /C/ | Cammərə | 'he added' | ||
| wıCC | 'outside' | |||
| /K/ | Kəyy | 'red' | ||
| ruK | 'far' | |||
| /P/ | ityoPıya | 'Ethiopia' | ||
| PaPas | 'bishop' | |||
| /S/ | Səhay | 'sun' | ||
| gəSS | 'page' | |||
| /T/ | Tıru | 'good' | ||
| wısT | 'inside' |
Pronunciation Drills
| /ə/ | |||
| məblat | 'to eat' | mayət | 'to see' |
| məsmat | 'to listed, hear' | mənə́zzərə | 'he changed' |
| məhed | 'to go' | aməsə́ggəne | 'he thanked' |
| bəlla | 'he ate' | asgə́ddədə | 'he forced' |
| səmma | 'he listened' | mókkərə | 'he tried' |
| ássəbə | 'he thought' | gə́mmətə | 'he guessed' |
| áddərə | 'he spent the night' | sə́bbəkə | 'he preached' |
| massəb | 'to think' | mə́kkərə | 'he advised' |
| madər | 'to spend the night' | bərr | 'doorway' |
| fərəs | 'horse' | wəyzəro | 'Mrs.' |
| hedə | 'he went' | wəyzərit | 'Miss' |
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